Maternal Risk Factors and Outcomes of Low Birth Weight

Background:
Low birth weight babies carry a relatively higher risk of perinatal and
neonatal mortality and retarded growth and development subsequently.

Objective:
The general objective of this study was to find out the maternal risk
factors & outcome (morbidity and mortality) of LBW babies.

Methods:
This case-control study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics
and Department of Pediatrics at Sir Salimullah Medical College and
Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, from Febuary 2014 to July 2014. Among 50
newborns,75 cases (newborns with low birth weight, LBW) and 75
controls (healthy newborns). Statistical analysis was carried out by using
the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for Windows version
22. The differences between groups were analyzed by unpaired t-test or
chi-square test and also the odd ratio was used for testing risk factors
associated with low birth weight. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as
significant.

Results:
Important maternal risk factors were primi parity(40% in cases Vs 27%
in control), age < 20 years (53% Vs 27%), hypertension (26% Vs 9%),
preeclampsia (14% Vs 4%), prolonged rupture of membrane (14% Vs
9%), APH (20% Vs 14%), multiple births (7% Vs 4%), anemia (9% Vs
7%). All these were statistically significant (p<0.05). The commonest
morbidities of the LBW babies during hospital stay were feeding
problems 53%, temperature instability 13, septicemia 7%,
hyperbilirubinemia 13%, apnea of prematurity 7%, the overall survival
rate was 67%, No infant with birth weight <1000 grams survived.

Conclusions:
The study revealed significant maternal factors associated with low birth
weight (LBW) in infants. Younger maternal age (under 20 years), lower
weight (`40 kg), and BMI (<18.5 kg/m2) are strongly linked to higher
LBW rates. Additionally, shorter maternal height (141-150 cm), lower
socioeconomic status, and less education increase LBW risk.
Inadequate antenatal care and pre-term births (≤36 weeks) are more
common in the LBW group. Antepartum issues, such as premature
rupture of membranes and pre-eclampsia, further contribute to LBW.